Data from 36 countries also shows that the UK has the third highest prevalence of ‘insufficiently active’ adults.

40% of the population aren’t getting enough exercise, compared to an average of 26.5%.

We also have the joint fifth highest prevalence of raised blood cholesterol. Across 47 countries studied, an average of 16.3% of people had raised cholesterol but in the UK and Ireland the figure was 21.7%.

In 2014, 3.9% of British adults had diabetes.

Obesity is linked to heart disease and diabetes (Picture: Getty)

But there was some good news, as the authors found that Britain has the the lowest prevalence of raised blood pressure and among the lowest rates of smoking in Europe.

This helps death rates from heart disease stay in the lower half of the rankings for ESC member countries, they added.

The ESC researchers wrote: ‘The emerging obesity epidemic affecting high-income countries, driven by physical inactivity and dietary indiscretion, needs determined action if the steep downward trend in cardiovascular mortality that has occurred in the last 50 years is to be maintained.’

Lead author Dr Adam Timmis, from QMUL, said: ‘Heart disease still remains the leading cause of death for middle income countries, while declines in high-income countries mean that cancer deaths have now become more common there.

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‘Interestingly, the figures show that heart disease is as much of a problem for women as for men, as we see that more are dying than before. This is especially the case for younger women, and these deaths are largely preventable through lifestyle changes.’

Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: ‘To have over 5% higher obesity levels than any other European country is truly appalling and the researchers are correct in fearing worse statistics in years to come.’